DEFRA ACCUSED OF AMBIVALENCE TOWARDS ENGLISH WINE WEEK

Published: 23 July, 2008

By Christian Davis

The Department of Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has been accused of ambivalence by not making an effort to support English Wine Week, to be held from 1-9 June. Frazer Thompson, the managing director of New Wave Wines, the new name for English Wines plc, said that DEFRA had turned down a request by the English Wine Producers for 10,000 towards supporting English Wine Week. The French wine industry gets e760 million a year,' said Thompson. Here, we are facing complete ambivalence among the Government to what is an embryonic business.' If we could get one in ten people to buy two bottles of English wine a year, the industry would be thriving and we could be helping to regenerate the countryside post Foot-and-Mouth disease,' he said. English Wine Week is a national campaign to promote English vineyards and wines, and its links with regional speciality food. The week is organised and sponsored by English Wine Producers and Food From Britain, and supported by vineyards nationwide. Many vineyards will be promoting themselves to the public, offering tours, tastings and organising special events, and some will be linking up with outlets within the on- and off-trade, as well as other regional events. About 95 vineyards throughout central, eastern and southern England will be open to the public. In many cases full visitors' facilities will be offered. For information, contact Julia Trustram Eve at English Wine Producers, on: 01536 772264, or e-mail: info@englishwineproducers. com. Visit: www.english wineproducers.com